Card clothing treatment mechanism



' Jan. 29, 1957 G. w. VAUGHAN, JR., ETAL CARD cLoTHrNG TREATMENT MEcHANrsM Filed ,May 6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 STT@ V INVENTORS Guy W l/auf/ANTJQ.

Karl

G. w. vAUsHAN, JR., ErAL .2,779,053

CARD CLOTHING TREATMENT MECHANISM Jan. 29, 1957 :s sheetssheet 2 Filed May 6, 1955 6' Train/Ev Jan. 29, 1957 G'. w..vAUGHANQ JR.. ET AL 2,779,063 v CARD CLOTHTNG TREATMENT MECHANTSM Filed May e, 1953 s sheets-sheet s BY @51H44 United States Patent O CARD CLOTHING TREATNIENT MECHANISM 5 Guy W. Vaughan, Jr., New York, N. Y., and Columbus R. Sacchini, Willoughby, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Marquette Metal Products Division, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,366

11 Claims. (Cl. 19-109) The mechanism which forms the subject matter of this application relates generally to the carding of fibers of various kinds in the production of textile sliver. One object of the invention is to provide a new or improved mechanism for substantially continuously treating card clothing to maintain it in properly working condition by the use of suction (i. e. locally applied and limited induced air flow) during the normal operation of the carding machine to produce useful sliver.

An already known method (see Masallera-Castell Patents 2,481,002; 2,507,141 and 2,627,631) involves the use of a suitable suction nozzle (or plurality of nozzles) traversing the carding cylinder along its axis or transverse to its direction of rotary motion, specifically with the object of limiting the thickness of fiber blanket on the clothing wires and, additionally, restoring to the cylinder (e. g. via the oncoming picker lap in the carding machine) such useful fiber material as is removed from the fleece or its supporting blanket on the clothing, while leaving the clothing in a desirable condition for cooperation with the flats andother carding elements, all to the ultimate end of producing sliver of generally uniform quality as to strength etc. The method, as usually described by said patents, is practiced through controlled or limited progressive lifting of the matted fiber material etc. on the cylinder clothing wires, as along helical tracks which may continuously overlap or otherwise be caused eventually to cover or work upon all operating areas of the cylinder. The treatment, as usually explained, is done in such a manner as not to effect removal of any substantial amount of useful blanket fiber material from the treated portions of the clothing wires, as distinguished from periodical stripping operations accomplished by suitable mechanisms when the carding machine is running idly. The controlled lifting without substantial removal of desired blanket material would appear to involve extremely precise regulation or control or selection 2,779,053 Patented Jan. 29, i957 ice Additionally, or more specifically, we propose continuously to clean or operate upon the carding cylinder through a suitable opening (slot) in the back plate of the carding machine (or, in other words, in a region situated between the lickerin hood and the rearmost flats), by action of a concentrated air stream of definitely limited intensity moved slowly over the entire effective area of the cylinder clothing in progressively over-lapping helical narrow paths always in same direction. Successive periods of performance of the air stream are defined or separated from each other, in point of time, by nearly idle periods of movement of the stream-producing apparatus, and the nearly idle periods are of sufliciently short duration relative to the active periods as to have no practical significance from the standpoint of effect on the fiber blanket of the cylinder or the fleece of useful fibers being carried thereby toward and past the flats.

Further, in the practice of our method, the desired carding action is never materially interfered with, principally because the filament of fibers progressively removed from the points or tips of the clothing wires and from between the wires by the concentrated suction-induced air stream is of such small transverse dimensions and the progress along the cylinder is at such speed, that, as the suction nozzle performs what may for convenience be termed a unit fractional cycle of operation (one turn of the cylinder past the nozzle) rebuilding of desired useful blanket fiber accumulations on the treated area immediately commences to takev place aided by the bridging or tying bers of the blanket.

In the operation of the improved mechanism hereof, for the purpose o-f maintaining, as nearly as possible, continuity and uniform depth of the desired blanket or :fleece-supporting body of fibers in the clothing, close to the points or tips of the clothing wires (as necessary properly to `support the fleece), the working cycle of the mechanism is interrupted near one margin of the cylinder clothing (preferably beyond the usual position of the selvage portion of the web-forming fleece thereon, but subject to ready adjustment as required in practice); and then, through a relatively rapid nearly idle movement of the nozzle-supporting apparatus to its initial (also independently adjustable) position, during which nearly idle time the suction or air stream is greatly reduced, the working cycle is then recommenced in exactly the position at which the preceding cycle was commenced. Thereby, inter alia, the nozzle is prevented from becomof effective suction force and/or area of operationin l view of variables in fiber accumulation, fiber quality and other variables known to occur in connection with card- In the method described and claimed in our application Serial No. 431,973, filed May 24, 1954, as a continuation in part hereof, now Patent No. 2,712,674, instead of attempting to loosen and controllably lift the accumulated fibers on the clothing wires by applying the required suction-induced air movement to progressively changing areas ofthe clothed cylinder, we propose so to apply such highly concentrated suction induced air llow as Would,- under at least some practical conditions, be sufiicient to strip the wires clean regardless of depth of accumulations of mat fiber etc. thereon, While limiting the region of air flow action to so narrow a path or track, around the cylinder, that laterally adjacent areas of the useful, fleecesupporting, blanket of fibers will always be bridged and thus connected by tying fibers embedded at both ends in the blanket fiber material. Y

ing clogged by fleece and other fiber during the rapid return, but, of greater importance, the nozzle, at the end of each working cycle, operates upon a region of the clothing which was first to be treated during the preceding working cycle and not upon the region which w'as'the last to be treated on such working cycle.

A further'aspect and object of the present invention is the provision of a card clothing treatment mechanism, operating cyclically during normal carding, forcibly and continuously to strip from the card clothing a suficiently narrow ribbon, strand or filament of fiber and commingled material as will practically maintain the clothing wires free from deleterious impactment by fibers etc. ad-

jacent'the foundation, and, during whateverl time the equivalents thereof, can be assumed to be used or usable in connection herewith. Y y n The objects of the invention further include provision of a novel carding cylinder conditioning mechanism unit which can be mounted securely and precisely in proper working position on the various makes of carding machines now in use and without interfering in any way with normall carding operations thereof or with their proper seryicing, inspection or adjustment; an improved manner of causig a suction nozzle of the unit to traverse the carding cylinder in precise relationship to its clothing while enabling the suction nozzle and its support to be moved quickly toa convenient non-working or parked position and replaced quicklyand accurately in working position, and Va novel'and effectual means for causing the suction nozzle of a cardingH cylinder cleaner unit to traverse the cylinder at two widely different speeds dur.- ing'each completel cycle of operationofthe'unit. Other objects will bebrought out inthe following description of the preferred mechanism. 'i Y i In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a rear elevational assembly (greatlyy reduced scale) view 'of the present subject mechanism unitA lhereof and a collector` head C which carries'a suction nozzle (N, Fig. 2) and reversibly traverses the carding cylinderV parallel to its axis.

Figs. 1A and 1B are enlarged scale, detail sectional views taken as' conventionally indicated on Fig. 1l. Fig. 1C is a sectional view of avalve actuating device taken asindicated at lC-IC on Fig. IB. i v 'i i Fig. 2VV is an end view of the unit A, showing, in broken lines, associated portionsof a carding machine when( the unit is in working position thereon, the view further showing the collector head C and its suction nozzle N.

Figs. 2A and 2B are detail sectional views, eachA in a different relatively enlarged scale, taken as indicated on Fig. 2.` i

Fig. 3 is a partial or fragmentary transverse sectional assembly View as indicated at 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an assembly sectional (full scale) view, left and right hand portions of which are taken in different planes, both being indicated at 4--4 on Fig. 2 (plane of left portion further indicated on Fig. 5), showing the principal rotary or torque transmitting elements of a reversible, two-speed-output gear and clutch mechanism or unit G, shown at the left of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional assembly (reduced scale) view of mechanism G, showingV particularly a spring toggle or snapactionr mechanism T thereof, the View being taken at right angles to Fig. 4, as indicated thereon.

Fig. 6 is.v a full scale, sectional detail view of the toggle mechanism T, as indicated at 6-,6 on Fig. 5.

The iiber collector` and recycling head C Figs. l, 2 and 2A, which can for example be, essentially, as shown and deseribcdi'inl Patent 2,507,141, has.suitable. sleeve bearings, such as'thefo'nev shown orindicated at 10-:fin Fig. 2A, bywhich the head VC can slidealonga main rotaryvdrive shaft 11 of the presentunit A, while the re: cycling or fiber returning mechanism (not shown herein) is driven by the shaft through a key (not shown), operating in a keyway 12 extending approximately the full length of the shaft. To produce the required suction at the tip of ,the nozzle N, the `hollow interior of thev collectorjhead body/'14l vis connectedV to nozzleand toa"s1rv1itabler` low fair pressurelsource, or aspirator (not shown) lthrough af rigid tube '15, Fig.` l, on v'the body through an on-off-positionable"valve 16 (Fig. 1B). VThe body 17 of the valve isadjustably clamped to `thetube by means not shown. A flexible tube 18, a small portion of which is shown in Fig. l, leads from the valve body to the suction source or connected piping. The nozzle N, as best shown in Fig. 2, extends through a slot S inthe back knife plate K, guides .fr the nzizilefbeing u?. preferably coextensive with the slot S in order to reinforce the plate around the slot.

The recycling mechanism (not shown) of collector head C includes a hollow drum with perforated walls, the drum being geared to shaft l1 so that it is continuously turned thereby during operation of the carding machine. The drum acts as a rotary screen for collecting fibers received through the nozzle, and the fibers are suitably doffed from the cylinder and routed to the lap on the card'- ing machine feed plate, all as fully illustrated in Patent 2,507,14l.

For attachment of the present unit A to various makes of carding machines, the frame of the unit, as best shown in Fig. l, comprises principally main end frame members 22 and 24 (hereinafter swing arms) preferably connected together by a single fairly rigid cross member shown as a rod 25 of circular cross section. Additionally, bifurcated upper portions of the swing arms are pivotally connected as by removable pins 22 and 24', to respective elongated and rugged attaching brackets 26 and 27 The brackets are identical and as indicated by the showing of bracket 2.7 in Fig. 3, are generally of L shape. The brackets 26 and 27 will not be considered parts of unit A although forming important features of the present invention, and only one bracket will be described.

Fig. 2 shows the bracket 27 as having elongated slots 2,8. and 29 forreceiving attaching fasteners such as bolts or screws 39 and 31; and Fig. 3 shows a depending head or plate portion 27a of the bracket adjacent the pivot pin 2.4 to which portion theA swing arms are connected by adjusting and securing elements shown as screws 32 and 33. Upper screw 32 operates as a clamping element and passes, through a slot 32 in the swing arm 24, being threadedv into the head plate. Adjusting screw 33 is threaded into the swing arm and its. forward end abuts the head plate. After the brackets 26 and 27 are secured. in approximately proper.- position, as described later, the two adjusting screws 33 (see Fig. l)l are manipulated' for setting the shaft 11, hence the traversing path of nozzle N, precisely into parallel relationship to the carding cylinder. A portion of the clothed surface of the cylinder is. indicated at R, Fig. 2.

While the supporting-brackets 26 and27can be fastened to the carding machine framework in various ways, an ideal location for the necessarily very secure attachment is afforded by the invariably heavy and strong rear flatbearing brackets one of which- (typical shapelisindicated atFv in Fig. 2, flats at F. Fastenings for bothy brackets are identical in construction. Fastening'bolt 30,- Fig. 2B can belocated coaxially with the rearmost sheave or guide roller of the at assembly, the boltextending from the bracket F through a spacer sleeve 30a, slotl 28 in bracket 27- and into a clamping nut assembly 30h. Fastener 3-1 ultimatelyclamps bracket 27 against a block'35wl'iich, in turn, isfclamped to the bearing bracket Ff by' a1 single clamping screwl l 36:

The block 35 (as will beV apparent from inspection'of Fig. 2A) can swing through a complete circumference about fastener 36 for -enabling adjustment ofthe forward slottedY endof bracket 27 through a wide range ofangles about the axis` of fastener 30 during installation of the present unit. Thus, although there is` considerable difference indesign and location of iat-bearing brackets F'- on .different makes ofY cardingmachines; thet slots f2s; 29 and `swingablyf ypositionable attaching block-1851 will `permit the'present unit A always tobe mountedton those'brackets with thepath of movement of the suction-nozzle 'N in close relationshipvand parallel to the cylinder clothing: Additionally, when the screws 33 of the swing arms 22 and Y24 are finally properly adjusted and locked in place, as already described, the unit A can thereafter be-'easilyr releasedby unscrewing the clamping bolts 32; andthe unit can then be swung bodilyupwardly rand.'forwardly into a parked position suggested by Fig. 3 'at 24x. l thatl position the center of gravity of the unit is forwardly of the pivots 22 Yand 24', and the pins 38 or other stopshoulder-forming elements on the swing arms 22 and 24 abut the top sides of the brackets 26 and 27 to arrest further swinging movement. Flexible tube 18, Fig. 1, is, of course, disconnected from the valve assembly 16 etc., before the unit A is swung into its parked position. The lickerin assembly (L, Fig. 2), the feed roll (not shown) and other associated carding machine elements,` necessary to be inspected and/or serviced occasionally, can, with the arrangement described above, be fully exposed without having to detach the unit A from the carding machine. The present unit can, however, be completely detached (as for service thereto) by removing the pins 22' and 24'; and, when the unit is replaced on the machine and secured by said pins it is again in readiness for proper operation, requiring no readjustments. If similar units of the prior art are completely detached from the carding machine, then much valuable time is lost (carding time plus that of expert workmen) in reinstalling the units in working position with the necessary accuracy.

Due to the necessary relatively great length of the unit A it is impracticable if not undesirable in view of involved mass and other considerations to make the above described framework (swing arms 22, 24 and connecting parts) substantially rigid. Because of minor variations in the design of carding machines it is desirable also t provide for some variation in the spacing apart of the swing arms during installation so that they will swing freely about their supporting pins; and that can be accomplished by securing the ends of rod 25 into position as by drilling holes in the swing arms for fasteners (e. g. pins, one shown at 25a, Fig. 3') after the unit is practically installed. Minor misalignment of the swing arms 22 and 24 (such as may be required for proper nozzle traverse path) does not interfere with free turning of the drive shaft 11 because of provision (described below) for universal movement of the shaft 11 at each of its ends.

As shown by comparison of Figs. 1 and 4, each end of the drive shaft 11 is mounted in a ball joint bearing 40 (construction generally the same at each end, hence only one end being fully illustrated). As shown in Fig. 4, a bearing block 41 with flattened ends and a spherical periphery is secured as by snap rings to the shaft. The shaft turns freely in block 41 and the spherical surface of the latter mates a similar internal surface of an annular split retainer or mounting piece 42. The retainer is preferably held in place in the swing arm by a set screw (not shown). The two ends of a longitudinally split but otherwise' cylindrical guard sleeve or shroud 44 around the shaft are seated in counterbores 44a and 44b (Fig. 1) in respective swing arms, concentric with the bearing elements described above. The sleeve 44 is preferably loosely held in place so that it can be turned somewhat about the axis of the shaft 11 by engagement with the body portions of the collector head shown in Fig. lA. The collector head is required to` pivot about the axis of the drive shaft in order that the nozzle N (see Fig. 2) can be withdrawn from its guide (angles 19 and 20) when the unit A is swung upwardly to its parked or inactive position as previously described.

The shaft 11 is driven from its right hand end (Fig. l) by a reduction gear unit 45 of any suitable type, an output gear thereof (not shown) being connected to the shaft by a universal joint such as the one shown at 46 in Fig. 4 and which will be further referred to later. The universal joints pivot (i. e. allow for misalignment of connected torque transmitting members) about the same centers as the associated ball joints 40.

The present arrangement enables power takeoff (for operating the collector Vhead mechanism and means-for effecting traverse of the carding cylinder by the cleaner nozzle) from the main carding cylinder'y shaftwhose approximate position is indicated at H in Fig. 2. The rotational speed of that shaft is very nearly uniform in all carding machines, at least for each type or class of fiber stock. The free end of the shaft H has attached to it a drive pulley 48; and an input pulley 49 of the reduction gear unit 45 is connected thereto by a belt 50, partially shown. The installation of power transmissionfor unit A disclosed in this application is for a so-called right hand carding machine. For a left hand machine the relative position (Fig. l) of reduction gearing 45 and of gear and clutch mechanism G is reversed, partly in order to avoid conflict between the feed roll drive gearing (large bevel gear etc., not shown) and mechanism G. The unit A mechanism requires other reversals in position of parts in case of switching from right tol left hand drive carding machines, plus a very minor substitution of driving elements. (Clutch springs 82 and 92, described later, are differently wound in each case.)

Torque input to the mechanism G (see Fig. 4) is i through the universal joint 46 to a spur and bevel gear 55a, the gear and shaft 11 having sockets slidably fitting the non-circular-terminal stubs 46 and 46" of the universal joint.

In order to drive the collector head C, hence suction nozzle N, along the carding cylinder parallel to its rotational axis, cable driving and supporting sheaves or pulleys 55 and 56 (Figs. l, 2 and 4) are arranged on the unit A. Sheave 55 is mounted on casing 53 of gear and clutch mechanism G, and sheave 56 is mounted on a carrier plate 57 (far right Fig. l, see also Fig. 3) situated and clamped in place between swing arm 24 and the reduction gear unit 45. The two sheaves support a multiple strand one-piece wire cable 60 the two ends of which are secured to the collector head body 14 as at 58 and 59, Fig. 1. Upper or partly concealed stretch 61 of the cable passes over a nozzle-carrying portion C of the collector head as shown in Fig. 2. In order to hold the loop of the cable which is partially shown at the left in Fig. l in rm frictional contact with the cable driving pulley 55 on mechanism G, the carrier plate 57 (right, Fig. l) supports a spring-operated, cable-tene sioning assembly 62 the character and functioning of which will be fully apparent from Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to enable some selection in the exact position of the cable 60 (for example such that the upper stretch 61 just clears the collector head portion C', Fig. 2) the carrier plate 57 (see Fig. 3) is pivotally guided by suitable circular surfaces on the case of reduction gear unit 45 or the swing arm 24 and the securing bolts or screws 45 for the assembly are tightened, during installation, after the plate 57 and its cable tensioning and supporting assembly 62 has been adjusted to the proper position. At the opposite loop of the cable, adjacent unit G, similar adjustment of its position is enabled (see Fig. 4) by turning of the case 53 of unit G on supporting circular counterbore surface 53 in swing arm 22 before drilling holes (not shown) to receive a locking key 53". Discs 55 and 56' on the sheaves for cable 60 serve as guards which, in case the cable runs out of either Sheave groove, prevent the cable from being fed into the carding machine.

The reversible two speed outputgear and clutch mechanism or unit G, Fig. 4, the input gear 55a of which is continuously turned by drive shaftl1l while ,the carding machine is in operation, is controlled as a function .of the position of the collector head C along the connect. ing rod 25 which is parallel to the drive shaft as shown in Fig. l. Positioning linkage operated by an abutment 66 on the collector head C (see particularly Fig. lA) operates through a flexible control link 67 and connected toggle mechanism T, Figs. 5 and 6, to move a clutch shifter lever 68, Figs. 4 and 5, which, in turn, operates a spring clutch assembly U of mechanism G in order to determine the ldirection and speed of operation of cable drive sh'eave S5 through' the transmission gearing of unit G` as; will be more fully-explained later. In the specifically illustrated installation, per Fig. 1"'(f`orright IiandWcarding machine) the leftward" traverse stroke' of theV collector head C is ver-y rapid, rightward veryv slow; It does-notl matter, of course, which stroke is lrapid and whichis slow. v

In Fig. 1 a pair of clutch actuator or controly arms'70 and 741-A (c'f. Figi 1A) are assumedto be adjustably'ii'iied in proper position to a slide rod 71' parallel to frame connector rod 25', which latter supports the slide rod through suitable brackets 72 and73 fast'onthe connector rod. Flexible control link` 67 is suitably attached, a's at 67', to the slide rod. Assuming abutment 66 'of collector head'C has'just made contact with arm 70 (condition`- ing 'the 'mechanism of unit G for slow traverse driving of tHe-collector head tothe right commencing a traverse cycle) the abutment 66, upon engagement with arm 74 will move the slide rod 71 and connected ilexible control link? 67 rightwardly, reversing the drive mechanism of unit G and causing commencement of leftward fast or rapid'traverse stroke. Complete traverse cycle has been performed when arm 70 is re en`gaged and moved by abutment 66.

At or'near each end of each traverse stroke of the collector head C the air valve 16 is reversed from its previously occupied position through engagement, by abutments 77 and 78 (adjustably fixed to the connector rod 25), with 'a valve control arm 79 connected to the stem' ofthe valve plug 16a (see Fig. 1B which shows the valve open). As will be apparent from comparison of Figs. 1 and 1B, nozzle suction isrgreatly reduced by closing ofthe valve 16 at the end of the slowor active (right ward) traverse strokev of the collector head; and full suction is again re-established at completion of the rapid oridle traverse stroke.

Due" to the inertia or" the column of air at atmospheric pressure which' would exist between the nozzle and the valve 16 if the valve were to be completely closed, it is advisable that means be provided soy that the column be kept moving during the idle stroke. Otherwise an air surge takes place when the valve isopened, sometimes causing the nozzle to become clogged. An effectual solution is to provide a bleeder orice (e. g. hole'16b Fig. 1B) through the plug 16a. Because the mechanism of unit A operates to transpose the fast and slow traversing movements when the unit is installed on a left hand carding machine (slow traverse stroke is then leftward, Fig. l), itis necessary for the valve-stcm-connected control arm 79 to have two Vpositions for attachment to the valve plug in' order that valve operation shall beproperly coordinated to traverse speed. The position 79a, Fig.` 1B, 90 removed from the position shownas occupied by arm 79 in Fig. l serves thefindicated purpose.l

Princi'plly to'p'reve'nt interested persons from unan#` thoizdlytar'npering with the`valv`e`16` in a manner to interfere Vwith its proper automatic re-positioning bythe collector head, stops for the angular valve movement betweenon and off positions are provided (shown as pins 120 Fig. 1B) for co-operation with a stop arm 121 on the shank of the valveplug 16a. The limiting stops arepof course, relocated when valve control arm '79 is moved from "one of its positions to the other.

If,"durifr41gf installation, the valve-operatingl abutment arms 77 and 78; Fig.l l, are not located in Aexactly correct positions' on connector rod 2S in` relationship `to the cy'zlical back-and-forth motion of collector head C, then tlie'valve plug 16a may not be fully turned into its on and 1off positions by said abutment arms or alternatively (incase of too much valve-operating movement) there will be a tendency to damage some portion of the valve orit's 'operating'mea'ns- Accordingly, as shown by Fig. 1C; thevalv'operafing abutment portion f 122 yof-'eacli valv'bprating arm '7'2" and 78 is yieldable,`A relative to'tliea 1/s inch The`valve plug 15d: and its'- guide bore are preferably tapered ina well known manner' (notshown)'so't hat no clearance exists` between the ping antibot-e. Instead of providingyieldable abutments such as 122, Fig. 1C, -an equivalent yielding effect maybe incorporated-in the valve, as'ill'ustrat'edbyFig'. 1D, by' employing a yieldable cantilever spring arm -130`on the taperedvalve plug 16C whichyduring traversing movement of the nozzle carrier; holds the valve plug in proper on and off positions by co-operation with stops'131 and 132- on'the valve body: The twowayeyielding spring arm enablesv safe movement of the carriersomewhat beyond the-positions necessary to open and close the valve'.

Therel is a depletion in the effective*suction'orceA con# trolled b'y valve 16 generally in proportion 'to the distance the vcardin'gr machine is from the suction creatinglmeans, and to allowfo'rthat variation a readily rplaceableoric plate 12S (the air admitting opening 125 of which may be readily enlarged with a round iile during installation of the unit); is provided in the valve assembly preferably as illustrated in Fig. 1B.

The preferred specific 'arrangements and/ or operations of gearandy clutch 'mechanism G and toggle mechanism T', as'sho'wnin Figs. 4, 5 'and 6, are as follows: Input ge'ar 55a through its bevel teeth 80 Vcontinuously drives a carrier gear 81 fo'r a helical clutch spring 82, the` gear 81I being/loosely journalled--onarnainl shaft 83 suitably supported in casinghsection 53a; The coils-of the spring 82 lyingremot'ely of Aits carrier'gear 81 normally loosely surround'a clutch-drum surface 84'on the shaft. The clutch'springih'as an e'nergizingtoe 85'fwhich normally revolves idlypast anl actuatorlug86 onva shipper collar 87 positionable 'by the shipper lever 68 through appropriate-radial pins entering the collar. The shaft 83carries snap rings 88 which limit the axial movement of shipper collar 87 and permit-its 'easy assemblyl on shaft Spur gear teeth 89 on input gearSSa drive a gear and Worm assembly 90, diagrammatically shown, the worm meshing with teeth lofa worm wheel 91, loose on shaft 83 and serving as a carrier for a clutch spring 92 identical withspring v82 andoperating the same way under'the inuence of shipper collar 87, its connected lever 68 and the toggle mechanism T. Actuator pin 86 engages toe 85 to energize clutch spring 92. Takeoff from the shaft 83, which is ,reversibly driven by selective action of the spring clutches "(and at greatly reduced speed if clutch spring 92-'is energized), is solelythrough spur gear couple 98, 99- to the cable drive wheel 55. :Y I

Asalready notedabove, but by way of summary of operatiomthe very slow (rightwarcl)V traversing move= ment'- of the-collcctorhead Cv and tSSuctionfno'zzlefis accomplished while the -air valve 16 isv open vfoiaprilyingsuction-to the carding cylinder clothing and the ber and other material thereon. During the rapid idle return traversing stroke of the collector head (bevel gears 8 0, 81-and clutch spring 82 then acting) the valve 176y is approximately closed and very little suction isthen ap)- plied by the nozzle to the cylinder clothing etc.-v Inethe present design thc active traverse (with drive 'shaitmll` aboutv 3Q minutes', yandthe idle retiii'n'stroke' occupies All areas of the cylinder clothing' critical operation and must be extremely exible in order I remain in the neutral-illustrated position shown by Fig. 4,.

andthe necessary automatically repeating or cycling operation of the hereinabove described mechanism would fail to Vtake place, presently requiring shutting down of the carding machine long enough to recondition it for producing usable sliver.

The toggle arms or arm assemblies 100 and 101 are designed with balanced fixed trunnion bearing supports 102, 103. Each employs two light duty ball bearing sets whose positions are apparent from inspection of Fig. 5. The trunnion pins 102 and 103 are locked by associated threaded nuts, or otherwise, in relatively opposite wall members 105 and 106 which guard the toggle mechanism from contact with lint and dirt. Additional ball bearings are provided (not indicated by numerals) for the supporting pins 108 and 109 of toggle tension spring 110. With the toggle assembly in the illustrated posi-tion of FigxS (not the actual position for operation) the lower horizontal portion of toggle arms 101 is slotted, as better shown a-t 111 Fig. 6, to receive a, small diameter pin portion 112 of kclutch shifter lever 68. A similar (pin and slot) kconnection 115 is provided between the toggle arm 100 and a bell crank 116 to which the operating link 67 of slide rod 71, both previously described, is attached. The toggle mechanism has oiled for life bearing assemblies and the mechanism is virtually incapable of stalling in a dead center position.

.In installing the present mechanism Ion a left hand carding machine (opposite of Fig. 1), a reduction gear unit 45, together with the tension take up device 62, are located adjacent swing arm 22 (carrier plate 57 in reversed position, not illustrated,.so that sheave 56 is spring biased toward the left); carrier plate 106 (Fig. 5) for toggle mechanism T and a similar carrier plate 68a for the pivotal support of shifter lever 68 are interchanged in position on the case 53 of gear and clutch unit G,` thus allowing unit G to be mounted on swing arm 24, at'its right, with the cable drive sheave 55 in proper position; and the flexible link 67 is of course attached to the opposite end of 'slide rod 71 for connection to the bellcrank 116 of the toggle mechanism. Since the above rearrangement results in a reverse input rotation'of drive shaft 11, the clutch springs 82 and 92are replaced with appropriate (right hand wound) springs. The change results further in -that the slow or active traverse motion of the collector head C is now leftward, hence it is also necessary to reposition the control arm 79 of air valve 16, as already explained, so that it extends downwardly and to the left, Fig. 1, from its connected valve stem when the valve is in open position.

Attention is called to the fact that when carding machines with cylinders of diiferent length are equipped with the present mechanism, only the lengths of parts between the swing arms 22 and 24 (viz: drive shaft 11, rods 25, 71, guard sleeve 44 and cable 60) are subject to change and that none of those parts have to be of exact length as supplied with the rest. Usually assembly of said parts with the main mechanism units is done at the work site, requiring only a small number of Very ordinary tools and no special or extraordinary skill.

The traversing mechanism hereof is a marked improvement over those employing so called reverse threaded shafting and co-operating follower means requiring high precision manufacture and which are of short life due to rapid wearing of parts particularly at the crossover portions of the threads. Such arrangements moreover have fixed traverse lengths whereas in the present arrangement the traverse is readily adjustable as to length (both ends of travel) after installation and trial operation.

It is also evident'from; the above description that said mechanisms are designed; eifectually to perform automatically the succession of method steps earlier hereinabove given in detail.

In treating cylinder clothing fork machines built ror adapted for cotton and synthetic fiber stock the suction utilized is on the order of 20 inches to 30 inches (water), roughly twice that practiced according to the herein identied patents, and the nozzle orifice, which is more or less of Venturi shape (not illustrated), has a small diameter of .125 inch to .150 inch which is roughly half the diameter recommended in actual practice of the methods and equipment shown by said patents. Further as against the active traverse time of one half an hour with insignificant return or idle time the practice under the patents was on the order of two minutes per stroke but with no idle time. Each traverse stroke was active, as actually practiced, so -that there was a tendency to overclean the marginal portions of the clothing and underclean the portions intermediate the margins.

We claim: y

l. A carding cylinder cleaning mechanism comprising a pair of supporting members for rigid attachment to respective main frame stands of a carding machine, generally between the lickerin mechanism and rearmost flats thereof, a suction operated, carding cylinder cleaner unit the framework of which comprises a pair -of swing arms pivotally carried by respective supporting members together with guide means extending approximately parallel to the carding Vcylinder axis and serving to connect theswing arms together, the unit including a suction nozzle movable along the guide means for traversing the carding cylinder, transmission mechanism carried by one swing arm arranged to cause such traversing movement cyclically, carding machine power takeoff mechanism carried by the other swing arm, Ia torque transmitting shaft, torque-connected at its opposite ends t-o the power takeoif mechanism and the transmission mechanism through respective universal joints, and spheroidal, hence universally movable, bearing supports for the two ends of the shaft lon respective swing arms and with the centers of the spheroids located in planes transverse `to the axis of the shaftand which are approximately coincident with the intersection points of respective universal joints.

2. A carding cylinder conditioner comprising a pair of supporting membersr for rigid attachment to respective main frame stands of a carding machine, generally between Vthe lickerin mechanism and rearmost flat carriers thereof, a suction operated cleaner mechanism including a nozzle and a rotary' screen continuously in the path of air sucked through the nozzle, a framework for the mechanism comprising a pair of swing arms pivotally carried by respective supporting members together with guide means extending approximately parallel to Ithe carding cylinder axis and serving to connect the swing larms together while supp-orting the mechanism for .traverse movement along the carding cylinder, a drive shaft for therotary screen, torque-connected Ithereto and extending parallel to the guide, carding machine power takeoff means including a universal joint adjacent one of the swing arms for rotating the shaft, and a universal bearing support for the shaft on said swing arm and with its center approximately coincident with the intersection point of the universal joint.

3. In combination with a carding cylinder suction cleaner unit for a carding machine having main rigid side frame members or `stands supporting the cylinder and other rotary elements of the machine for rotation, said unit having a suction nozzle for operation close to the cylinder clothing and a supporting sub-frame including a guide for the nozzle extending parallel to the cylinder axis for enabling traverse of the cylinder by the nozzle, together with a pair of unit frame members xed to opposite ends of the guide; supporting arm-s for respective unit frame members adapted for rigid attachment to the maints-ide frame members of the machine, the unit frame members being connected to respective supporting arms byf approximately coaxial pivot pins and additionally adjustably and detachably secured to the arms remotely of 'the pins, whereby the unit can'be swung bodily to a non-'working or parkedposition on the carding machine andj'llater returned t-o working position and be there sec'uredwithout having to reorientate the nozzle .and cylinder.

4; arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each of the supporting arms has a generally horizontally vextending arm port-io-n which is slotted lengthwise to receive a plurality ofv spaced apart attaching bolts or screws for enabling eectual attachment 4of the unit to ditfer'e'nt'makes or styles of carding machines, and each supporting arm has a rigidarm portion extending in a generally vertical direction for detachable support of the associated unit frame member in -a xed operating position.

5. The arrangement according to claim `3 wherein each supporting arm has -a gener-ally upright portion at the top of Whichthe associated pivot pin is disposed, and each associ-ated uni-t frame member has an adjusting screwthreaded thereto, one end of which screw abuts theupright portion of the arm at a region thereof considerably below the pivot pin, together with means operable to lock the unit frame members to their associated upright portions of the respective supporting arms and their screws in tight contact therewith.

6. In combination with a carding machine having a carding cylinder, a ilat assembly and a pair of rearwardly disposed flat-assembly-supporting brackets and a lickerin, 'asuction-operated, carding cylinder cleaner unit arranged for operation over a predetermined exposed elongated surface portion of the cylinder between the lickerin and the' -`ila'ts `ot the'mac'hine, a pair of elongated rigid arms adapted tto extend generally parallel to and in overlapping relationship to respective flat-assembly-supporting brackets, each of the arms being slotted lengthwise, two attaching'bolts extending through respective kslots in each arm to secure the arms to yassociated supporting brackets, acarrier block for receiving one of each of the bolts of each arm, single pivot means securing'each of the carrier blocks to its associated atasupporting bracket whereby the block can be swung through an arc of sub- 'star'i'ti-alV length to raise or lower the cleaner unit, and means to secure the cleaner unit to said rigid arms.

7: The combination according to claim 6 wherein the last Ynamed means ythereof includes coaxial pivotal connections between the cleaner unit and respective rigid arms so that the cleaner unit can be moved to a nonoperating or parked position remotely4 ofthe lickerin and carding cylinder.

8. The combinationwith'a carding machine having-Aa lickerin mechanism, clothed carding cylinder, revolving flats and driving means; of a cylinder conditioning unit including suction means having asuction nozzle,la carrier for the suction means and a guide for the carrier extending parallel to the cylinder axis and supporting the carrier withits nozzle close to the cylinder clothing, characterized by the employment of means connected for operation by the carding machine driving means during normal operation of the machine to produce sliver'and ope-rating automatically to cause the suction means 'and its nozzle, through movementof the carrier, cyclically to traverse a predetermined portion of the tcylinder'clothe" ing in relatively opposite directions, ancl` meansy operative to cause the traverse stroke in one direction t-o be at a Ispeed much faster than that of the returnv stroke;

9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein the carrier of the suction means 4hasn suction control air valve -operable between open and approximately closed positions, the cylinderconditioning unit has`valve operating means including two valve actuator elements respectively located at opposite eective ends of the guide, the valve having elements co-opertaing-With the actuator elements to open and close the valve'at respective' ends of the carrier strokes.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said valve actuator elements are mounted on the unit for individual adjustment in the directionv of extentof the guide.

11. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the valve operating means includes yielding means operative to enable the carrier to move somewhat beyond the posi tions necessary to open and close the valve'wi'thout damage to any of said elements.

References Cited in the tile `ot' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 2,049,824 Rosell Aug. 4, 1936 2,118,200 Hess May 24, 1938 2,343,787 Martin Mar. 7, 1944 2,481,002 Castell Sept. 6, 1949 2,585,776 Hermanek Feb. 12, 1952 2,627,631 Castell Feb. 10, 19,53 2,651,080 Wied Sept. 8, 1953 

